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I really want to learn being able compile and solder an embedded system but I don't know where to start. Assuming I have the parts, tools and materials, how can

I really want to learn being able compile and solder an embedded system but I don't know where to start. Assuming I have the parts, tools and materials, how can I learn where to put capacitors/resistors etc in a custom design? What kind of simulators are good at testing these ideas without needing to waste expensive components? What was missing in my Computer Engineering curriculum which paints those circuit parts (except the cpu) completely alien to me?

ethbro 7y ago
Start with a simple, known-good design, then figure out why each part is there. After you get some experience reverse engineering existing designs, start trying to build something simple. Thinking blinking lights without a processor. Warning: Embedded tools are not user friendly. Because most people who use them, use them all the time. Eagle has a free tier. I think it's the EDA tool we used in my CS/CSE courses. There are open source alternatives, but they had even rougher edges a decade ago when I was using them. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-board-layout/all https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-board-layou...
- bschwindHN 7y ago
  These days KiCad does a good job, especially if you're just starting out. Some CERN developers started working on it a few years ago and it's been much improved since then.
  - ethbro 7y ago
    You might have inspired me to give it a retry! I remembered the name, but wasn't sure enough to recommend it to someone new. Apparently there are browser-based options too. https://www.circuitlab.com/ https://www.circuitlab.com/ https://www.falstad.com/circuit/ https://www.falstad.com/circuit/
HeyLaughingBoy 7y ago
Buy an Arduino clone, install the crappy GUI and see where that leads you. Forget simulators. IME, software devs obsess about simulators. I think they're mostly a waste of time: at the beginner levels we're talking about here, signals are slow (after 30 years in the business, I can't believe I now think a 16MHz signal is "slow" :-) and parts are cheap. Just dive right in and blink a few LEDs or something.
skybrian 7y ago
There are a lot of electronics tutorials that you can find starting from Arduino. SparkFun and AdaFruit sell various kits and have a lot of tutorials for things like how to solder.
mastax 7y ago
Read the datasheets for your parts. Good datasheets will tell you what components you need, what values they need to have, and how to layout the board. They are often written assuming some knowledge but you'll have terms to google.
m-ee 7y ago
Open source projects like Arduino and the Pyboard have schematics available. If you want to learn about about why those components are there read the datasheets for the major ICs, the board designer will usually be following the manufacturers recommendations. Emulation is rarely ever done, it'd be a high effort project with a lot of nuance to specify external hardware and the hardware is cheap anyway. A rough flow for an embedded project would be to start with a development board from the MCU manufacturer to get a head start on firmware, move on to a custom dev board of your actual product but with more easily accessible pins and test points, and then iterate on the final formfactor board. For a hobbyist start with an arduino and a pyboard connected to a breadboard. Once you're happy with the firmware and circuit design then start with the open source schematic and modify it to add your new components and lay it out on your custom board.
amelius 7y ago
Try the book "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Scherz and Monk. There's a chapter on microcontrollers.

ethbro 7y ago

Start with a simple, known-good design, then figure out why each part is there. After you get some experience reverse engineering existing designs, start trying to build something simple. Thinking blinking lights without a processor. Warning: Embedded tools are not user friendly. Because most people who use them, use them all the time. Eagle has a free tier. I think it's the EDA tool we used in my CS/CSE courses. There are open source alternatives, but they had even rougher edges a decade ago when I was using them. https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-board-layout/all https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/using-eagle-board-layou...

bschwindHN 7y ago
These days KiCad does a good job, especially if you're just starting out. Some CERN developers started working on it a few years ago and it's been much improved since then.
- ethbro 7y ago
  You might have inspired me to give it a retry! I remembered the name, but wasn't sure enough to recommend it to someone new. Apparently there are browser-based options too. https://www.circuitlab.com/ https://www.circuitlab.com/ https://www.falstad.com/circuit/ https://www.falstad.com/circuit/

HeyLaughingBoy 7y ago

Buy an Arduino clone, install the crappy GUI and see where that leads you. Forget simulators. IME, software devs obsess about simulators. I think they're mostly a waste of time: at the beginner levels we're talking about here, signals are slow (after 30 years in the business, I can't believe I now think a 16MHz signal is "slow" :-) and parts are cheap. Just dive right in and blink a few LEDs or something.

skybrian 7y ago

There are a lot of electronics tutorials that you can find starting from Arduino. SparkFun and AdaFruit sell various kits and have a lot of tutorials for things like how to solder.

mastax 7y ago

Read the datasheets for your parts. Good datasheets will tell you what components you need, what values they need to have, and how to layout the board. They are often written assuming some knowledge but you'll have terms to google.

m-ee 7y ago

Open source projects like Arduino and the Pyboard have schematics available. If you want to learn about about why those components are there read the datasheets for the major ICs, the board designer will usually be following the manufacturers recommendations. Emulation is rarely ever done, it'd be a high effort project with a lot of nuance to specify external hardware and the hardware is cheap anyway. A rough flow for an embedded project would be to start with a development board from the MCU manufacturer to get a head start on firmware, move on to a custom dev board of your actual product but with more easily accessible pins and test points, and then iterate on the final formfactor board. For a hobbyist start with an arduino and a pyboard connected to a breadboard. Once you're happy with the firmware and circuit design then start with the open source schematic and modify it to add your new components and lay it out on your custom board.

amelius 7y ago

Try the book "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Scherz and Monk. There's a chapter on microcontrollers.